Dollarama sells food — but where do we draw the line? Sylvain Charlebois dives into the economics of dollar store groceries, brand deals, and why chilled foods still pose a challenge.

He explains how shelf-stable items, vendor loyalty, and private label packaging give Dollarama a major edge — even if marinated pork tongue never becomes a top seller. Shane and Sylvain also debate food delivery habits, digital convenience, and what really drives the choices young Canadians make around food.

Insightful, unexpected, and just the right amount of weird.

GUEST:
Sylvain Charlebois
@‌foodprofessor

Originally aired on 2025-12-11

Dollarama sells food &mdash; but where do we draw the line? Sylvain Charlebois dives into the economics of dollar store groceries, brand deals, and why chilled foods still pose a challenge.
He explains how shelf-stable items, vendor loyalty, and private label packaging give Dollarama a major edge &mdash; even if marinated pork tongue never becomes a top seller. Shane and Sylvain also debate food delivery habits, digital convenience, and what really drives the choices young Canadians make around food.
Insightful, unexpected, and just the right amount of weird.
GUEST: Sylvain Charlebois @&zwnj;foodprofessor
Originally aired on&nbsp;2025-12-11

Shane Hewitt & The Nightshift is your late-night companion for real talk, bold ideas, and unfiltered conversations that matter. Hosted by Canadian radio veteran Shane Hewitt, each episode dives into the headlines, human stories, and hidden truths shaping our world—always with curiosity, compassion, and a sharp edge.

From politics and pop culture to mental health, technology, and everyday life, this podcast is where night owls, deep thinkers, and curious minds come to connect. Featuring expert guests, passionate callers, and Shane’s signature style—thoughtful, fearless, and refreshingly real.

If you crave meaningful dialogue, smart perspectives, and late-night radio energy in podcast form, subscribe now and join The Nightshift.

Shane Hewitt &amp; The Nightshift is your late-night companion for real talk, bold ideas, and unfiltered conversations that matter. Hosted by Canadian radio veteran Shane Hewitt, each episode dives into the headlines, human stories, and hidden truths shaping our world&mdash;always with curiosity, compassion, and a sharp edge.
From politics and pop culture to mental health, technology, and everyday life, this podcast is where night owls, deep thinkers, and curious minds come to connect. Featuring expert guests, passionate callers, and Shane&rsquo;s signature style&mdash;thoughtful, fearless, and refreshingly real.
If you crave meaningful dialogue, smart perspectives, and late-night radio energy in podcast form, subscribe now and join The Nightshift.

Shane Hewitt and The Nightshift

Shane Hewitt is known for his engaging and relatable on-air personality, which captivates listeners. His ability to blend insightful commentary with humour and empathy creates a genuine connection with listeners.  Shane Hewitt and the Night Shift provides relatable content, informative discussions and expert insights – along with a balance of anecdotes and entertainment.

Shane Hewitt is known for his engaging and relatable on-air personality, which captivates listeners. His ability to blend insightful commentary with humour and empathy creates a genuine connection with listeners.  Shane Hewitt and the Night Shift provides relatable content, informative discussions and expert insights – along with a balance of anecdotes and entertainment.

Would You Buy a Turkey at Dollarama?

Digital sovereignty in Canada is a practical question and your Gmail account is the starting point. You have probably used it for years without thinking about which country's laws govern it, who can access it under a subpoena, or what happens if the relationship between Canada and the US shifts in ways that affect your data. That possibility has started to feel less theoretical.

 

What does it feel like to care about something you never had to protect before? Most people woke up the morning Cloudflare went down with no idea that company existed, or that it was running most of their daily internet. Eleven million people in the UAE had a more serious version of that moment when Iran drone-attacked three data centers. The Canadian Centre for Cybersecurity has confirmed Canada is on that same target list.

 

The cloud turned twenty years old this month and the Canadian conversation about owning a piece of it is just getting started. A hyperscaler with a maple leaf on it does not exist yet. The distance between now and that goal is the most interesting technology story this country has going right now.

 

Topics: digital sovereignty Canada, cloud data security, Canadian internet infrastructure, Iranian cyber threats Canada, data backup plan

 

GUEST: Carmi Levy


Originally aired on 2026-03-16

Digital sovereignty in Canada is a practical question and your Gmail account is the starting point. You have probably used it for years without thinking about which country's laws govern it, who can access it under a subpoena, or what happens if the relationship between Canada and the US shifts in ways that affect your data. That possibility has started to feel less theoretical.
&nbsp;
What does it feel like to care about something you never had to protect before? Most people woke up the morning Cloudflare went down with no idea that company existed, or that it was running most of their daily internet. Eleven million people in the UAE had a more serious version of that moment when Iran drone-attacked three data centers. The Canadian Centre for Cybersecurity has confirmed Canada is on that same target list.
&nbsp;
The cloud turned twenty years old this month and the Canadian conversation about owning a piece of it is just getting started. A hyperscaler with a maple leaf on it does not exist yet. The distance between now and that goal is the most interesting technology story this country has going right now.
&nbsp;
Topics: digital sovereignty Canada, cloud data security, Canadian internet infrastructure, Iranian cyber threats Canada, data backup plan
&nbsp;
GUEST: Carmi Levy
 Originally aired on&nbsp;2026-03-16

ICYMI - What Would It Take for Canada to Own Its Own Internet?

Canadian retirement abroad is probably not what you think it costs. It is a form, a deposit, and in some cases a monthly income you may already be collecting. Costa Rica asks for sixty thousand US dollars in a local bank account, money that stays yours. Panama gives Canadians a lower real estate threshold because Canada is on the friendly nations list. Mexico grants residency to anyone who can show seventy-five thousand US dollars in savings over the past year. Uruguay asks for a thousand a month. You have probably been pricing out a retirement that costs more than any of these.

When was the last time you felt like the rules were written with you in mind? The real estate threshold in Panama is lower for Canadians because Canada is on the friendly nations list. The passive income floor in Uruguay fits retirement-level cash flow. Four countries made room for people in your situation. That is not a small thing.

Next time you price out retirement, ask one more question: compared to where? The answer comes with palm trees, a colonial capital, or a city between Argentina and Brazil. The math from there is yours to run.

Topics: Canadian retirement abroad, Costa Rica residency Canadians, Panama friendly nations real estate, Uruguay passive income residency, Latin America expat options

GUEST: Basil Mohr-Elzeki and Michel Soler | http://henleyglobal.com/passport-index/ranking

Originally aired on 2026-03-16

Canadian retirement abroad is probably not what you think it costs. It is a form, a deposit, and in some cases a monthly income you may already be collecting. Costa Rica asks for sixty thousand US dollars in a local bank account, money that stays yours. Panama gives Canadians a lower real estate threshold because Canada is on the friendly nations list. Mexico grants residency to anyone who can show seventy-five thousand US dollars in savings over the past year. Uruguay asks for a thousand a month. You have probably been pricing out a retirement that costs more than any of these.
When was the last time you felt like the rules were written with you in mind? The real estate threshold in Panama is lower for Canadians because Canada is on the friendly nations list. The passive income floor in Uruguay fits retirement-level cash flow. Four countries made room for people in your situation. That is not a small thing.
Next time you price out retirement, ask one more question: compared to where? The answer comes with palm trees, a colonial capital, or a city between Argentina and Brazil. The math from there is yours to run.
Topics: Canadian retirement abroad, Costa Rica residency Canadians, Panama friendly nations real estate, Uruguay passive income residency, Latin America expat options
GUEST: Basil Mohr-Elzeki and Michel Soler |<a href="http://henleyglobal.com/passport-index/ranking"> http://henleyglobal.com/passport-index/ranking</a>
Originally aired on&nbsp;2026-03-16

NEW - What $60,000 US Gets You in Costa Rica (You Keep It the Whole Time)

Irish whiskey is in the middle of one of the more exciting moments in its history, and the shelf at your local liquor store reflects it. You can find expressions right now that simply did not exist for most of the last century. Over fifty distilleries are operating across Ireland, and a strong selection of what they're making has already made it to Canada.

There is something genuinely exciting about what that history produced. Irish whiskey was the dominant spirit around the world in the 1800s before a war of independence hurt the distilling industry and US prohibition wiped out its largest export market for decades. The fifteen-to-twenty-year rebuild that followed brought single pot stills, peated blends, and family distilleries with stories going back to the 1700s.

Red Breast 12 is the single pot still that tends to open the category right up. Bushmills Original is still the warmest place to begin. And http://beaumontdrinks.com has the reviews to guide your next pour.

Topics: Irish whiskey guide, St. Patrick's Day whiskey Canada, single pot still whiskey, Irish distilleries, Irish spirits history

GUEST: Stephen Beaumont | http://beaumontdrinks.com

Originally aired on 2026-03-16

Irish whiskey is in the middle of one of the more exciting moments in its history, and the shelf at your local liquor store reflects it. You can find expressions right now that simply did not exist for most of the last century. Over fifty distilleries are operating across Ireland, and a strong selection of what they're making has already made it to Canada.
There is something genuinely exciting about what that history produced. Irish whiskey was the dominant spirit around the world in the 1800s before a war of independence hurt the distilling industry and US prohibition wiped out its largest export market for decades. The fifteen-to-twenty-year rebuild that followed brought single pot stills, peated blends, and family distilleries with stories going back to the 1700s.
Red Breast 12 is the single pot still that tends to open the category right up. Bushmills Original is still the warmest place to begin. And<a href="http://beaumontdrinks.com"> http://beaumontdrinks.com</a> has the reviews to guide your next pour.
Topics: Irish whiskey guide, St. Patrick's Day whiskey Canada, single pot still whiskey, Irish distilleries, Irish spirits history
GUEST: Stephen Beaumont |<a href="http://beaumontdrinks.com"> http://beaumontdrinks.com</a>
Originally aired on&nbsp;2026-03-16

Would You Buy a Turkey at Dollarama?

In 1 playlist(s)

Shane Hewitt and The Nightshift

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips